Describe prior distribution, Advanced Statistics

Prior distributions: The probability distributions which summarize the information about a random variable or parameter known or supposed at a given time instant, prior to attaining further information from the empirical data. It is used almost entirely within the context of Bayesian inference. In any specific study a variety of such kind of distributions might be assumed. For instance, reference priors represent the minimal prior information; clinical priors are used to formalize the opinion of well-informed specific individuals, frequently those taking part in the trial themselves. Lastly, sceptical priors are used when the large treatment differences are considered unlikely.